Cape Fear’s
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Going Green
your guide to local eco-friendly resources
2019 Native Plant Festival www.GoingGreenPublications.com
September 21, 2019
Volume 11 Issue 3
From the Organizers Welcome to the Fourth Annual Native Plant Festival! Our goal is to assist you in helping the environment by learning how to incorporate Native Plants in your gardens and to make everyone aware of the interconnectedness of our gardens to birds, butterflies, bees and other pollinators. Please enjoy our Arboretum gardens and take time to visit the Native Plants Demonstration Garden. We have lots of information to share through helpful Master Gardener handouts, expert speakers, and Audubon’s “Discover the Wonders of Birds” exhibits. Native Plant vendors are ready to sell plants and answer questions, while numerous children’s activities will engage the little ones. We appreciate your interest and hope you increase your knowledge and enjoy your visit. — The Native Plant Festival Planning Committee
Special thanks to Extension Master Gardeners for making this print publication possible.
Thanks to all our vendors of native plants. Ability Garden (at the Arboretum)
Heather Kelejian • hkelejian@nhcgov.com • (910) 798-7682
Going Native Gardens
Joyce Huguelet • huguelet@bellsouth.net • (910) 395-4236
Grizz’s Nursery
Michael Gore • grizznursery15@gmail.com • (910) 547-4934
Lumber River Nursery
Jep Whitlock • whitlocknative@att.net • (336) 601-8787
Shelton Herb Farm
Margaret Shelton • info@sheltonherbfarm.com • (910) 253-5964
Some useful websites about native plants of Coastal North Carolina: http://www.plantnative.org http://www.ncsugarden.com www.fws.gov/raleigh/pdfs/NativePlantsCoastalNC.pdf www.ncwildflower.org ncbg.unc.edu › Plants & Gardening On the Cover Callicarpa americana, or American beautyberry, is native to the South and thrives in our area. The shrub produces large clusters of purple berries from September through October that are a favorite among wild birds such as cardinals, finches, mockingbirds and woodpeckers. The bush itself provides cover for wildlife. Cape Fear’s Going Green is a quarterly publication promoting eco-friendly resources and lifestyles in the Lower Cape Fear River Basin. Publisher & Editor in Chief: Valerie Robertson Sister City: Eugene, Oregon (Voted “Greenest City” 2006 by The Green Guide) Eugene Contributing Editor: Mary Robertson Advisors & Editorial Contributors: Carol Bales, Mitzy Jonkheer, Christie Perry, Gloria Putnam, Lloyd Singleton, Mary Smith, & Charley Winterbauer. Cape Fear’s Going Green Going Green Publications P. O. Box 3164 • Wilmington, NC 28406 (910) 547-4390 publisher@goinggreenpublications.com www.goinggreenpublications.com Cape Fear’s Going Green is available by subscription or on our Web site. Print copies are available at more than 140 area eco-friendly businesses and locations, including: Arboretum/New Hanover County Extension Service, Aunt Kerry’s Pet Stop, Lovey’s Market, New Hanover County Public Library (Northeast Branch), Old Books on Front Street, Pomegranate Books, Re-eco Design, Tidal Creek Co-op, UNCW, Shelton Herb Farm, the YMCA, and the YWCA. Editorial: If you have story ideas or calendar items to suggest, email us at editor@goinggreenpublications.com, or call (910) 547-4390. Advertising information: Email ads@goinggreenpublications.com. Cape Fear’s Going Green is distributed free through Brunswick, Columbus, New Hanover, Onslow, and Pender counties. If you have a business and would like to receive multiple copies for the public, please contact us. The views and opinions expressed in articles in this magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official position of this publication.
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Native Flower Garden Magic by Carol Bales Would you like to have an enchanting, dramatic color burst of a flower garden this year? It can be big or small, and will reward you with fragrant aromas, visiting honeybees, butterflies and hummingbirds, and appreciative neighbors. Here is a growing guide on three great native plants that are easy to start from seed and easy to tend. They include Echinacea (purple coneflower), Rudbeckia (Black-eyed Susan) and Asclepias (milkweed). You can get started with creating this magical project right away, no matter what time of the growing season it is. Now is a great time to look through garden seed catalogs from which you can select and buy specific cultivars of these three plants. Now is the time to plant seeds, and if you want to skip the seed starting steps, you can order seedlings that will be shipped to you at the right time for planting. It is also a great time to gather together supplies you will need, such as hand gardening tools, gardening gloves, watering can, seed starting pots or trays, and organic seed starting soil mix. You might want to buy a gardening apron, wide-brimmed hat, and gardener’s soap. These supplies are available locally at garden centers and hardware stores. You have about a month to complete this step, so pace your work slowly and carefully. Start documenting your progress by taking photos as you proceed.
Keeping seeds fresh and viable can be done by putting seed packets in a zip-lock bag in the refrigerator. This will mock the over-wintering that occurs naturally. When you are ready to start planting seeds, remove them from the refrigerator and let them thaw before opening the baggie. Decide on where you will place the seedlings, whether in a sunny window or under a fluorescent growing light. Seedlings, once sprouted, should get 14 to 16 hours of sunlight or artificial light to grow strong. Once you have chosen a location, press the seeds into the top of moist seed starting mix that has been placed in little seed starting pots. Cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil. Water sparingly whenever the soil starts drying out. Using peat pots makes it easy to transplant the seedlings without disturbing their roots. Make sure that the top edge of the pots is covered with soil to stop wicking of moisture from the root. While the seeds are sprouting, make a diagram of the garden you want to create. Pay attention to the instructions on your seed packets, especially how closely to space your plants, amount of sunlight needed, and type of preferred soil. The three plants mentioned above all grow best in full sun, but can tolerate a bit of afternoon shade. Mark your calendar with the date you planted the seeds. These three plants bloom best from June to October, so mark your calendar with the date they are expected to start blooming. Here is some information about the three plants. All are native to this geographical
area, which means they should grow well in spite of our muggy hot summers and sandy soil and occasional drenching rain. They are all brilliantly colored and great for cutting into bouquets. They all are magical magnets for butterflies, bees, and hummers. All will self-seed, although they are also considered to be perennials that will come back year after year, provided the plants are mulched prior to hard freezes. Echinacea purpurea is otherwise known as Purple Coneflower. It will bloom the first year after germinating (unless you are planting in the fall), and will continue to grow taller, sturdier, and more productive of flowers and seeds each year. Cultivars have been developed by seed companies to provide some variety and freshness to our gardens. The following are some of the cultivars and their characteristics: E. Wild berry – medium sized brilliant pink flowers E. White swan – medium sized snow-white flowers E. Hot papaya – large reddish orange flowers E. Tomato soup – large red flowers that tend to fade to light orange E. Big sky summer sky – medium soft peach and pale pink flowers E. Fatal attraction – small bright pink flowers with buttons at center E. Magnus – large shell pink flowers, especially attractive to butterflies E. Sombrero salsa red – large intense red flowers that are very fragrant E. Double pink delight – medium vibrant pink pom-pom flowers
Rudbeckia hirta—otherwise known as black-eyed Susan—is a plant with large, cheerful, bright yellow floppy blooms. It looks great paired with any Echinacea or especially with purple amaranth. It is slow growing, and will grace your garden beau-
Natives or Cultivars?
True native plants are those that are found in the wild in their original geographical areas and environments. Cultivars are plants that have been cross-bred either naturally without human intervention or those bred to have favorable traits, such as color, form, productiveness, or hardiness. If the cultivars are used for decorative purposes, no harm done. If the cultivars are used for commercial or scientific purposes, it is important to preserve information about the plants used to create the cultivars. Whether you use true natives or cultivars, enjoy the plants and treat them well. Echinacea Wildberry
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Native Flower Garden Magic – continued that attract a variety of butterflies, moths, and bees. A. Syriaca – otherwise known as common milkweed. It has large leaves and light pink flower clusters A. Curasavica – otherwise known as Mexican milkweed. Tiny, school bus yellow and brilliant orange blooms. Blooms well into late fall until the first freeze. A. Amplexicaulis – blooms are “eraser pink” A. Exaltata – blooms are snow-white
Rudbeckia hirta
tifully. It likes well-drained rich soil with mulch protection for the roots. Although the original native is lovely, you might want to use one or more of its cultivars. These include: R. Prairie Sun – large sunny yellow flowers with green centers R. Gloriosa daisy – large red and gold blooms, good paired with R. Prairie Sun R. Cherry Brandy – large dramatic pink and red flowers with black centers R. Toto rustic colors – large, reddish brown streaked flowers R. Indian summer – large, golden yellow flowers that bloom late in season when others have stopped blooming
during the spring and then on their way down to Mexico during the late fall. There are several cultivars of this plant and these continue to bloom later into November and even December, when the Monarchs have usually completed their migrations. So, to be mindful of the Monarchs, try to use the native A. tuberosa as well as the cultivars. Some of the varieties include: A. Incarnata – otherwise known as swamp milkweed. It has bright pink flower clusters
Seeds and seedling plants of any of the varieties mentioned above are sold online and by seed vendors and through our Coastal chapter of the Native Plant Society. Local garden centers usually carry only a few or none of these native plants. Seeds and plants may be available during the Arboretum’s annual plant sale or the Native Plant Festival, either from vendors or in the seed swap booth. Planting these three plants together in a flower bed or large container will result in a lively, magical mix of blooms, butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds to add to your landscape. Carol Bales is an avid gardener and seed saver, and grows several kinds of milkweed in her yard. This article appeared originally in the Spring 2019 issue of Cape Fear’s Going Green, the fifth in her series on native plants.
Rudbeckia is easy to propagate from seed produced during the blooming season. Once the flower petals have dropped off the plant, cut several stems with the seed heads still attached. Dry the stems well, then place in a plastic baggie. Crush the seed heads with your hands through the baggie. The small seeds will drop off the seed heads and will collect in the bottom of the baggie. Discard the stems and seed heads once the seed is collected. Store in a sealed baggie in your refrigerator until it is time to start sowing seeds next year. Asclepias tuberosa (native milkweed) is a low-growing perennial plant with especially brilliantly-colored orange flower clusters. Migrating Monarch butterflies require milkweeds on which to lay their eggs. Monarchs migrate along the North Carolina coast on their way up to Canada 4
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Asclepias tuberosa
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New Native (and Nativar) Tree Species for 2019 at the Arboretum by Lloyd Singleton Despite its destructiveness, Hurricane Florence provided us an opportunity; several additional tree species were added to restore our canopy cover at the Arboretum. Here is a guide to the native (and nativar*) tree species you can find on the grounds.
upright grower will tolerate periodic flooding. Our specimen can be admired between the camellia garden and the red torii gate along the back garden walkway.
2) Diospyros virginiana “Magic Fountain” Persimmon is the native cousin to kaki persimmon, an Asian species. It is one of the easiest trees to identify in
Carpinus carolina (#1)
Diospyros virginiana “Magic Fountain” (#2)
1) Carpinus caroliniana, The American Hornbeam or Ironwood is a native forest understory tree, useful for shady landscapes and naturalized woodland gardens. Offering a kaleidoscope of color throughout the year, new leaves emerge reddish-purple, change to dark green, then turn yellow to orangered in the fall. In winter, a mature tree’s fluted blue-gray bark with long, sinewy ridges make it noticeable in the landscape. Growing to 20' high by 10' wide, this slow * The term “nativar” in this article refers to a cultivar of a native plant. For more information on the terms “native” and “cultivar” see the “Natives or Cultivars” box on page 3.
Coastal Landscapes Initiative Fosters Smart Landscaping Strategies The Coastal Landscapes Initiative, or CLI, is a new collaborative effort to address landscaping at every stage of the process, from planning and design to installation and management. The ultimate goal is to foster coastal landscapes that are beautiful, functional, cost-efficient and environmentally friendly. Partners draw on their expertise and connections across myriad disciplines, including horticulture science and business, ecology and wildlife, landscape architecture, design and contracting, economics and education. This public-private partnership began in December 2017. The team’s initial focus is to raise awareness and increase the availability of highly beneficial plants; identify and recognize the exemplary coastal landscapes that already exist; and increase access to relevant, reliable information. To learn more about the CLI, visit their webpage at: go.ncsu.edu/ coastallandscapes. www.goinggreenpublications.com
Fall is the Best Time for Planting Berries for Birds DId you know that most songbirds rely on berries to fuel their long migration journeys south in the fall? Audubon North Carolina says that birds flock to berryproducing plants for the native insects they attract as well as their flavorful fruits. They suggest that when adding native berry-producing plants to your yard, you seek out varieties that fruit at different times of the year, so the birds have food
to eat year-round. Blackhaw Vibernum, for example, produces edible berries in the fall that attract Brown Thashers, Northern Mockingbirds, Gray Catbird, Wood Thrush, and Cedar Waxwing. Visit nc.audubon.org to learn more about this and other plants on their annual “Bird-Friendly Native Plants of the Year” list. —Source: nc.audubon.org
Ask for Native Plants at Local Retailers Your local nursery wants your business. If you’d like to buy more native plants from a particular store, let them know of your interest in using North Carolina native plants. Here is a blank coupon you can use: photocopy or photograph with your phone and print it. Fill it out and leave it with the store if you don’t find the plant you’re looking for. The more people express an interest in purchasing natives, the more readily available they will become.
I use North Carolina native plants in my garden. Today I was looking for:
If you stock this in the future, please contact me:
Thank you!
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New Native Tree Species at the Arboretum – continued from page 5 winter when mature because of its distinctive thick, dark gray bark that is broken into rectangular blocks. Magic Fountain leaves are glossy dark green and cascade in keeping with fountain namesake. Plants are usually dioecious (separate male and female trees), but some trees have perfect flowers—flowers containing both male and female parts—and can self-pollinate without the help of wind or insects. The native edible persimmon fruits are smaller than its Asian cousin and are quite astringent when green but sweet when ripe. Fruits are commonly used in syrups, jellies,
ice creams or pies, but are too soft for commercial shipping and sale. Persimmon leaves can be used to make teas, and the extremely hard wood has been used to make billiard cues and golf club heads. Find this specimen just outside the native garden area next to the concrete riprap wall. 3) Nyssa sylvatica “Green Gable” Black Gum or Black Tupelo is a native to Eastern North America. It is a slow grower, reaching a height of 60'+ with a spread of 25'. The bark is light grey and deeply furrowed. The spring flowering habit that
Can You Locate These Trees?— An Arboretum Treasure Hunt...
Pictured on pages 5 through 7 are six of the seven native trees planted this year somewhere on the Arboretum grounds. As you visit the grounds, see how many you can locate. The photos should give you a clue, as we’ve not cropped out the buildings and walls that serve as backdrop. All trees are identified with labels at ground level, so you can see whether you’ve guessed correctly. Read Lloyd Singleton’s article starting on page 5 to learn the growing requirements and habits of each of these native trees, and to see photos of the rest of them. (Missing photo: the pond cypress wasn’t feeling particularly photogenic as we went to press, but it’s doing well in its location near the new stormwater infiltration zone.) The Arboretum offers the perfect place to learn about trees as you decide which might be appropriate for your own home landscape.
Nyssa sylvatica “Green Gable”(#3)
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Oxydendron arboretum (#4)
is polygamodioecious, meaning some plants have mostly male flowers while others have mostly female flowers, with most plants having a few perfect flowers. This honeybee nectar source is responsible for the prized Tupelo honey, and the berries are enjoyed by thrushes and other native wildlife. The tree’s beautiful fall color and tolerance of wet soils make this a good specimen to display among the Arboretum’s camellias area near the woodland garden. 4) Oxydendron arboreum, Sourwood is best grown in acidic, moist, organically rich, well-drained soils in full sun. This tree tolerates part shade with diminished flowering and fall color, but is intolerant of drought and urban pollution. A deciduous native understory tree, it is commonly found on rocky wooded slopes in the Appalachian Mountains in combination with acidic soil-loving azaleas and rhododendrons. In an urban landscape it typically grows 20-25' tall with a straight, slender trunk and narrow oblong crown. Finely-toothed, glossy green leaves have a sour taste and produce consistently excellent fall color of crimson red. Waxy, white flowers droop in early summer and give way to dry capsules that ripen to silver-gray in the fall providing ornamental interest into the winter. Honeybees like the flowers, and Sourwood honey is a highly
Quercus alba (#5)
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New Native Tree Species at the Arboretum – continued prized local product. You can view the droopy seed capsules on this specimen growing directly behind the Education Center near the round brick patio. 5) Quercus alba, White Oak grows to 50-80' tall in cultivation, preferring rich, moist, acidic, well-drained loamy soil in full sun. It has a pyramid shape in youth and matures into a large tree with a thick trunk and wide-spreading, rounded crown. Its bark becomes shaggy as it ages. Its acorns feed wildlife; its wood is of great commercial value. This majestic oak was added to the picnic area to provide shade again, an opportunity offered by 2018’s hurricane Florence. 6) Taxodium distichum var. imbricarium, commonly called Pond Cypress, is a native deciduous conifer. It is most often found on the peripheries of ponds and lakes, hence the common name. It is very similar in form and habit to the common bald cypress, Taxodium distichum. Pond cypress is generally a smaller and more narrow tree. Bark is gray-brown to red-brown, and its deciduous leaves are arranged in a spiral, changing from green to orange-brown in fall. The tree is best grown in average, medium to wet soils in full sun. The Arboretum’s pond cypress will be found in the new stormwater infiltration basin near the property boundary fence.
7) Cercis canadensis “Carolina Sweetheart™” Redbud is a cultivar of the native deciduous, often multi-trunked understory tree with a rounded crown that typically matures to 20-30' tall with a slightly larger spread. The Carolina Sweetheart™ provides color with pink flowers in the spring followed by emergent purple leaves changing to various shades of white, hot pink, and green. This special redbud will provide spring color in the new Cape Fear Shade Garden at the end near the Japanese garden. Trees are the most valuable vertical component of the landscape for a healthy ecosystem. The Arboretum offers a chance to see trees in place and assess which might be the most appropriate investment for your own yard.
purchase your tree online and pick it up at the Arboretum. (See ad, below.) Also worth a visit is the Native Plant Demonstration Garden, filled with perennials and the pollinators that enjoy them. Lloyd Singleton has just celebrated his one-year anniversary as the Director for the New Hanover County Cooperative Extension at the Arboretum, employed by NCSU. Previously, he served as the Extension Director for Lake County, Florida for commercial horticulture clients. While working with the University of Florida, he earned his Masters degree in Agroecology, the science supporting sustainable and regenerative food production. His prior work experience included landscape manager responsibilities at Universal Orlando theme park and The Breakers Palm Beach resort.
We invite you to use your visit to the Arboretum as a Tree Treasure Hunt: see how many of these new tree plantings you can identify. Several of these are available through the Friends of the Arboretum “BeFriend a Tree” Tree Sale; you can
The Friends of the NHC Arboretum is a 501(c)(3) organization and a portion of your purchase may be tax deductible as allowed by law.
Tree photos by Lloyd Singleton. Cercis canadensis “Carolina Sweetheart™” (#7)
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